Andrew Demetriou provides his last critique

Sports writer with The Age

The desk is clean, with about 48 boxes set to be carried out by removalists. The final lap, dubbed by one cheeky wag as Steve Waugh like, is almost complete, with one last round of thanks reserved for his staff on Thursday. Then it’s off to a new life for Andrew Demetriou, the man who has sat in Australian sport’s hottest seat for more than a decade.

Demetriou, as most would know, has rarely been afraid to speak his mind.

“No final clips. I am going out without having any enemies,” he joked while announcing the league's new equalisation policy on Wednesday.

But before the final embrace and handshake, before his successor Gillon McLachlan has it all to himself, Demetriou did provide his last critique of the competition, which he has largely led well as chief executive, although there have been some potholes.

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He admitted this year’s fixture, with some timeslots - such as Saturday and Sunday twilight, and Monday and Thursday night matches - had possibly suited the broadcasters and viewers more than those wanting to attend.

''There is absolutely no doubt the game is in good shape and, if you look at some of the key measurements that Gillon and [AFL chairman] Michael Fitzpatrick will oversee ... we have got great numbers in our [club] memberships, television ratings are up, our crowds are down in Melbourne but are up on average overall when you consider what is going on in Adelaide, which has lifted the average,'' he said.

''There is certainly something going on around a combination of variable pricing, affordability, the schedule, the start times. We have trialled some start times aggressively this year as part of our broadcast rights and we are starting to learn about what is working and what is not working.

''All of those things will be factored in ... I know Gill is committed to tackling this issue of affordability for our supporters.''

Demetriou reiterated that stadium returns for home clubs in Melbourne needed to improve. The AFL and Etihad Stadium management still remain about $30 million apart in terms of what the league feels is a fair price to pay for it to purchase the venue early.

''We do have to get better returns out of stadiums in Melbourne because if you see what is going on around Australia, Adelaide Oval, the new stadium in Perth and the Sydney Swans, they are all getting significantly more out of their returns at the gate.

''This is the heartland of football with 10 clubs. It’s terribly important both Etihad Stadium and the MCC step up to the mark.''

While not quite a clip, he also offered a few words for the Napthine government or its successor at this year’s state election.

''In fairness to the MCC ... this state, and I am not talking about this state government, but all state governments since I have been around, have been pretty poor about supporting the MCC,'' he said.

''In my time, I think about $50-odd million have been put into the MCC. Around Australia, when you consider South Australia, $535 million [into Adelaide Oval], Perth is about to be $800 million [on a new stadium], we have $145 million in Queensland for Metricon [Stadium], you have got $220 million for the SCG, you have got $65 million for GWS.

"Here in Melbourne, [the MCC] generates billions of dollars of economic activity, [and] we pay $6.5 million to the MCC. I can tell you that would go a long way to help our Victorian clubs if we weren’t paying that.

"Whoever wins the next election, step up and support the MCC, because it would help our competition.''

Minutes later, Demetriou would exit stage right into the bowels of AFL headquarters, his time helping the league - and the demands this has required - almost over.